How to Adopt a Pet From Jacksonville's City Shelter in 5 Steps: Fees From $80 to Free

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Adopting a dog or cat from Jacksonville's city shelter starts with finding an available pet, meeting the animal, completing a questionnaire, preparing for the pet's arrival and paying the required fees. Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) charges standard adoption fees ranging from $80 to free, depending on the animal's age, weight and type. The city says adopters can take their pets home the same day after completing the required paperwork.

The city shelter operates at 2020 Forest Street in Jacksonville and opens its Adoption Center daily from noon to 7 p.m., although holiday hours may differ. ACPS cares for approximately 6,000 to 8,000 animals annually, with nearly 500 pets waiting for adoption on any given day. The agency takes in an average of 32 animals daily and provides online listings, adoption services and several fostering programs.

Step 1: Find an Adoptable Dog or Cat

Start by visiting Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services at 2020 Forest Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204, or reviewing the shelter's available animals online. The Adoption Center opens seven days a week from noon until 7 p.m., giving visitors the same regularly scheduled hours throughout the week. Hours may differ on holidays, so the city's published schedule should be checked before visiting on those dates.

The city's Adopt a Pet webpage displays adoptable animals through listings provided by 24Petconnect.com. Jacksonville also offers the JaxPawFinder mobile application for finding available shelter animals. Both options provide ways to begin looking at available pets before visiting the Forest Street location.

The number of animals in the shelter provides context for the adoption process. ACPS reports that nearly 500 animals are waiting for adoption on any given day, while its annual intake includes thousands of animals. The agency's average daily intake of 32 animals also shows the continuing scale of its animal care operations.

Step 2: Visit the Shelter and Meet the Pet

After identifying an animal, the next step in the city's adoption process is a meet and greet. This takes place as part of the shelter's established adoption procedure, following the initial search for available pets. The city's instructions place the meeting before completion of the adoption questionnaire.

Visitors can use the Adoption Center's daily noon-to-7 p.m. schedule when planning their visit. The shelter is located at 2020 Forest Street, and the city's contact number is (904) 630-CITY (2489). The Adoption Center schedule applies every day, with possible differences during holidays.

ACPS handles both dog and cat adoptions, with fees that depend on the animals' classifications. Dogs have several fee categories based on age and weight, while cats have separate categories for kittens and older cats. The specific adoption charge becomes relevant when an adopter proceeds through the shelter's remaining steps.

Step 3: Complete the Adoption Questionnaire

Once the meet and greet is finished, ACPS directs prospective adopters to complete an adoption questionnaire. The questionnaire is the next step listed in the city's adoption instructions, before home-preparation information and payment. Completing this part of the process moves the adoption toward its final paperwork and payment stages.

The city outlines a process that includes an animal search, meet and greet, questionnaire, preparation guidance, payment and taking the pet home. ACPS states that adopters can bring their new pets home the same day after completing the paperwork. Its published steps do not require a separate adoption visit after the paperwork has been completed.

The shelter also offers a prepay process for people interested in pre-adopting eligible animals. ACPS advises prospective adopters to ask about this option, which is separate from the standard sequence described on its adoption webpage. The city's fee information identifies pre-adoption as an available process for eligible pets rather than a requirement for every adoption.

Step 4: Get Ready to Bring the Pet Home

After completing the questionnaire, the city's next adoption step is receiving tips about preparing for the pet's arrival. ACPS includes this home-preparation guidance before the payment and final paperwork stages. The shelter also provides starter food and resources to adopters.

According to ACPS, every adopted animal receives several services before going to a new home. The city states, "All of our animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before they go to their new homes." These services are included in the shelter's adoption process rather than described as separate steps for adopters to arrange afterward.

The availability of starter food and additional resources is another part of the city's adoption services. ACPS provides these items alongside the animal's completed spaying or neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. The city's process places home-preparation guidance before the final adoption payment.

Step 5: Pay the Fee and Take Your Pet Home

The final step combines payment, completion of the adoption paperwork and taking the animal home. ACPS lists adoption fees according to the animal's age, weight and whether the pet is a dog or cat. Some animals qualify for waived adoption fees, although Duval County residents must pay the applicable $20 city license fee.

For dogs, the standard fee is $80 for animals under 20 pounds and for puppies younger than six months. Dogs older than six months that weigh more than 20 pounds have a $20 adoption fee, while dogs older than five years qualify for a waived adoption fee. For cats, adoption fees are waived for those older than six months, while kittens younger than six months cost $60 under a buy-one-get-one offer.

The city states that prices can change, additional fees may apply and ACPS frequently offers adoption promotions. Duval County residents pay the $20 city license fee at adoption, with the city's annual license priced at $20. After payment and completion of the required paperwork, adopters can take their new pets home the same day.

Jacksonville Animal Shelter Adoption Fees

Jacksonville's standard adoption fee schedule separates animals into categories based on age, weight and type. Some categories have no adoption fee, but the city's annual license charge and other applicable fees can affect the final amount paid. ACPS also runs promotions, so its published fees are subject to change.

The $20 city license is separate from the standard adoption fee and applies to Duval County residents adopting through ACPS. Additional charges may apply, and promotions can change the amount charged for particular animals. The fee schedule also directs prospective adopters to ask about the prepay process for eligible animals.

Fostering: Another Way to Help Jacksonville Shelter Pets

Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services also offers fostering opportunities for people who have the time and space to care for an animal temporarily. Anyone age 18 or older who meets those basic time and space conditions can participate in fostering. Arrangements can range from an overnight stay to a month or longer, depending on the fostering program.

The agency offers four named programs with different arrangements. Foster to Family allows someone to foster a pet they are considering adopting for up to two weeks, while Dogs Around Duval allows participants to take a shelter dog out for a day. Space Force provides short-term fostering, and Kitten Army focuses on fostering kittens.

People interested in fostering must complete the ACPS Foster Pet Volunteer Profile. The completed profile can be returned to the shelter at 2020 Forest Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204, or emailed to [email protected]. ACPS provides the program information through its Foster a Pet webpage.

The shelter also operates a Pet Resource Center at the Forest Street location, separate from its Adoption Center schedule. The Pet Resource Center opens daily from noon to 5 p.m. and accepts admissions by appointment only. The Adoption Center remains scheduled from noon until 7 p.m. daily, with hours that may differ on holidays.

Shelter Location, Hours and Contact Information

The city's Animal Care and Protective Services facility is located at 2020 Forest Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Its Adoption Center opens every day from noon to 7 p.m., while the Pet Resource Center operates from noon to 5 p.m. with admissions by appointment only. The public can contact the city at (904) 630-CITY (2489) for information about its animal services.

## How we did this Jax Times used information from the City of Jacksonville's Animal Care and Protective Services webpages, including Adopt a Pet, Fee Schedule, Location, Hours and Map, and Foster a Pet. We also used the city's ACPS homepage and its information about online adoptable-pet listings through 24Petconnect.com and the JaxPawFinder application. The information was verified using jacksonville.gov and 24petconnect.com on Oct. 27, 2026, with the city's location, hours and fee information retrieved Oct. 28, 2026.